The Historical Reliability Of The Bible By David Dann
Historical Reliability of the Bible “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures for-ever” (Psalm 119: 160 --NKJV).
Historical Reliability of the Bible “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3: 16).
Historical Reliability of the Bible “…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1: 20 -21).
Historical Reliability of the Bible “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16: 13).
Historical Reliability of the Bible “…how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3: 3 -5).
Historical Reliability of the Bible “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17: 17).
Historical Reliability of the Bible • The Bible—rooted in history, but not a textbook of history. • Is it historically accurate? – Bible vs. Higher Criticism.
Historical Reliability of the Bible Langdon Gilkey, (Professor of Theology, University of Chicago) “Suddenly a vast panoply of divine deeds and events recorded in Scripture are no longer regarded as having actually happened. Not only, for example, do the six days of creation, the historical fall in Eden, and the flood seem to us historically untrue, but even more the majority of divine deeds in the biblical history of the Hebrew people become what we choose to call symbols rather than plain old historical facts…these ‘acts’ vanish from the plane of historical reality and enter the never-never land of ‘religious interpretation’ by the Hebrew people. ”
Historical Reliability of the Bible • The Bible—rooted in history, but not a textbook of history. • Is it historically accurate? – Bible vs. Higher Criticism. – Do the facts support the faith?
Historical Reliability of the Bible • The Bible—rooted in history, but not a textbook of history. • Is it historically accurate? • Archaeology & secular history confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. – General confirmation. – Specific confirmation.
General Confirmation of O. T.
General Confirmation of O. T. • The Flood (Genesis 6 -9).
General Confirmation of O. T. • The Flood (Genesis 6 -9). • Widespread Famine (Genesis 12: 10 -20; 42: 1 -4; 43: 1 -2).
General Confirmation of O. T. • The Flood (Genesis 6 -9). • Widespread Famine (Genesis 12: 10 -20; 42: 1 -4; 43: 1 -2). • Large-scale migration. Beni Hassan Wall Paintings of Asian Semitics in Egypt
General Confirmation of O. T. • The Flood (Genesis 6 -9). • Widespread Famine (Genesis 12: 10 -20; 42: 1 -4; 43: 1 -2). Code Of Hammurabi • Large-scale migration. • Patriarchal names. • Abraham’s behavior (Genesis 12: 11 -13; 16: 1 -3).
General Confirmation of O. T. • Stories involving Jacob, & Esau. Isaac, – Birthright (Genesis 25: 29 -34). – Oral Blessing (Genesis 27: 1 -40). – Household 31: 17 -42). Nuzi Tablets Idols (Genesis
General Confirmation of O. T. • Stories involving Jacob, & Esau. Isaac, • Story of Joseph (Genesis 37: 28; 41: 39 -41).
General Confirmation of O. T. • Stories involving Jacob, & Esau. Isaac, • Story of Joseph (Genesis 37: 28; 41: 39 -41). • Egypt’s treatment of Israel & Moses’ census (Exodus 5: 613; Numbers 1 -4). Thutmose III
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Hazor (Joshua 11: 1). – Megiddo (Joshua 12: 21). – Jerusalem (Joshua 10: 1). – Lachish (Joshua 10: 3). – Dor (Joshua 11: 2). – Gaza (Genesis 10: 19). – Karnaim (Genesis 14: 5). – Canaan (Genesis 11: 31). Ebla Tablets
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Hazor (Joshua 11: 1). – Megiddo (Joshua 12: 21). – Jerusalem (Joshua 10: 1). – Lachish (Joshua 10: 3). – Dor (Joshua 11: 2). – Gaza (Genesis 10: 19). – Karnaim (Genesis 14: 5). – Canaan (Genesis 11: 31). Ur of the Chaldees – Ur of Chaldees (Genesis 11: 2728; 12: 1; Hebrews 11: 9).
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Haran (Genesis 11: 31 -32). – Hebron (Genesis 23: 2). – Beersheba (Genesis 21: 31). – Shechem (Genesis 12: 6). – Laish (Judges 18: 29). Nineveh – Nineveh (Genesis 10: 11). – Ekron (Joshua 13: 3).
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Haran (Genesis 11: 31 -32). – Hebron (Genesis 23: 2). – Beersheba (Genesis 21: 31). – Shechem (Genesis 12: 6). – Laish (Judges 18: 29). – Nineveh (Genesis 10: 11). – Ekron (Joshua 13: 3). – Jericho (Joshua 2: 1). Jericho
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Copper in Canaan eronomy 8: 9). (Deut- – Solomon’s horse stables in Megiddo (1 Kings 9: 19). Megiddo Horse Stables
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Geography of Old Testament. – Copper in Canaan eronomy 8: 9). (Deut- – Solomon’s horse stables in Megiddo (1 Kings 9: 19). – Jeroboam’s “high place” in Dan (1 Kings 12: 26 -31). “High Place” at Dan
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Merneptah Stele mentions Israel (13 th century B. C. ). – Earlier reference to “Asher” (14 th century B. C. ). Merneptah Stele
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Moabite Stone of Mesha refers to Israelite king Omri (1 Kings 16: 16) and his son (1 Kings 21: 25). Moabite Stone
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Shalmaneser III makes reference to Hazael’s usurpation of Ben-Hadad (2 Kings 8: 15). Shalmaneser III
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III speaks of Jehu’s tribute to Assyria (2 Kings 9: 1 -10). Black Obelisk
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Records of Tiglath Pileser III mention Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea (2 Kings 15: 29 -30). Tiglath Pileser III
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Records of Sennacherib refer to Hezekiah’s tribute to Assyria (2 Kings 18: 14 -16). Sennacherib
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Taylor Prism of Sennacherib harmonizes with Biblical account of his unsuccessful siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18; 19: 35 -36). Taylor Prism
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Hezekiah’s tunnel (2 Kings 20: 20). Hezekiah’s Tunnel
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Shebna’s tomb (Isaiah 22: 15). Tomb of Shebna
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – Babylonian king Merodach. Baladan (2 Kings 20: 12). Merodach-Baladan
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The records of king Esarhaddon of Assyria agree with Biblical accounts (2 Kings 20: 36 -37; 2 Chronicles 33: 1011). Esarhaddon
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – King Nebuchadnezzar Babylon (2 Kings 25). Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace of
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – King Nebuchadnezzar Babylon (2 Kings 25). of – The Babylonian Chronicle mentions Nebuchadnezzar’s removal of Jehoiachin as king of Judah (2 Kings 24: 17). Babylonian Chronicle
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • – Seals inscribed with the names of Gemariah, king Jehoiakim’s scribe (Jeremiah 36: 10), Baruch, who was Jeremiah’s scribe (Jeremiah 36: 4), Gedaliah the governor (Jeremiah 40: 5), and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah (Jeremiah 41: 2) who assassinated him. Gemariah Gedaliah Baruch People of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The list of rations king Evil. Merodach appointed for Jehoiachin while captive in Babylon (2 Kings 25: 27 -30). Jehoiachin’s Rations
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The Cyrus Cylinder confirms king Cyrus of Persia and his lenient stance toward captive nations (2 Chronicles 36: 2223; Ezra 1: 1 -4). Cyrus Cylinder
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The Behistun Rock confirms the reign of Darius the Great (Ezra 5 -6). Behistun Rock
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The Persian king Ahasuerus of the book of Esther has been identified in secular history as “Xerxes, ” who was succeeded by his son, Artaxerxes (Neh. 2: 1). Xerxes (Ahasuerus)
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • People of the Old Testament. – The Elephantine papyri confirm the existence of Sanballat of Samaria (Neh. 4: 1), while the Zeno papyri confirm the existence of Tobiah the Ammonite (Neh. 4: 3). Zeno Papyri
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Events of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Cornelius Tacitus Events of the Old Testament. – First century A. D. Jewish historian Josephus wrote of evidence of destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah and stated that traces of the destroyed cities could still be seen in his day, while the first century A. D. Roman historian Tacitus speaks of these cities as having been “consumed by lightning” and also affirms that their ruins were visible in his day.
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Events of the Old Testament. – Widespread worship of the pagan deities Baal (Judges 2: 13), Dagon, and Ashtaroth (1 Samuel 31: 10) in Canaan. Baal Dagon Ashtaroth
Specific Confirmation of O. T. • Babylonian Chronicle Lachish Letters Events of the Old Testament. – Three phases of the Babylonian captivity of Judah (Dan. 1: 1 -6; Ezek. 1: 1 -3; 2 Chron. 36: 15 -21) have been confirmed through the “Bayblonian Chronicle, ” the “Chronicles of the Chaldean Kings, ” and the “Lachish Letters. ”
General Confirmation of N. T.
General Confirmation of N. T. • Augustus Caesar Character of Roman census ordered by Augustus (Luke 2: 1 -3).
General Confirmation of N. T. • Coins mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 20: 2; 22: 17 -21; 26: 14 -15; Mk. 12: 41 -44). Shekel (First Century A. D. ) Denarius (Augustus)
General Confirmation of N. T. • Presence of Jewish communities (Acts 2: 5 -11).
General Confirmation of N. T. • Presence of Jewish communities (Acts 2: 5 -11). • Reference to Queen of Ethiopia as “Candace” (Acts 8: 27).
General Confirmation of N. T. • Altars to “unknown gods” (Acts 17: 23).
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament Geography.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Rome New Testament Geography. – Cities and towns such as Rome, Jerusalem, Athens, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Antioch of Syria, Corinth, Ephesus, etc. have been identified and excavated. Jerusalem Capernaum Athens (Mars’ Hill)
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament Geography. – The judgment seat (bema) of Corinth (Acts 18: 12 -17). Corinthian Bema (Judgment Seat)
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament Geography. – Temple of Diana and theater of Ephesus (Acts 19: 27 -41). Temple of Diana Ephesus-Theater
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Jordan River Sea of Galilee New Testament Geography. – The Jordan River (Matthew 3: 13 -17), Sea of Galilee (John 6: 1), Mount of Olives (John 8: 1), and the Pools of Bethesda and Siloam (John 5: 1 -15; 9: 1 -11) have been identified, along with many other significant locations. Mount of Olives
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Pool of Bethesda Pool of Siloam New Testament Geography. – The Jordan River (Matthew 3: 13 -17), Sea of Galilee (John 6: 1), Mount of Olives (John 8: 1), and the Pools of Bethesda and Siloam (John 5: 1 -15; 9: 1 -11) have been identified, along with many other significant locations.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament People.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Augustus Tiberius New Testament People. – Roman emperors Augustus (Luke 2: 1), Tiberius (Luke 3: 1), Claudius (Acts 11: 28), and Nero, (Acts 25: 10 -12), are well known through secular history. Claudius Nero
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Herod the Great New Testament People. – The ruling family of the Herods, including Herod the Great (Matthew 2: 1), Herod Archelaus (Matthew 2: 22), Herod Philip (Luke 3: 1), Herod Antipas (Mark 6: 14 -18), Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12: 20 -23), and Herod Agrippa II (Acts 26: 1 -3), is also well attested in secular history.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament People. – Historical accounts of government officials such as Quirinius (Luke 2: 2), Lysanias (Luke 3: 1), Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27: 2), Sergius Paulus (Acts 13: 7), Gallio (Acts 18: 12), and Felix (Acts 23: 23 -24) agree with the Bible. – Pontius Pilate inscription was discovered in 1961. Pontius Pilate Inscription
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Caiaphas Ossuary New Testament People. – As for Jewish leaders in the New Testament, the ossuary (burial box) of Caiaphas the high priest (Matthew 26: 3) was discovered in 1990, Gamaliel (Acts 5: 34) is mentioned in the Jewish Talmud, and Ananias the high priest is known through secular history.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament People. – Josephus makes mention of both John the Baptizer (Matthew 3: 1) and James the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1: 19). Flavius Josephus
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • New Testament People. – In 1929 a first century A. D. limestone inscription which makes reference to Erastus the city treasurer (Rom. 16: 23) was discovered in Corinth. Erastus Inscription
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Non-Biblical References To Jesus.
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Cornelius Tacitus Non-Biblical References To Jesus. – The Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (60 -120 A. D. ) states that Christ was executed by Pontius Pilate in Judea during the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Tacitus, Annals 15. 43). – The Roman historian, Gaius Suetonius (69 -140 A. D. ) traces a disturbance among the Jews in Rome back to the influence of Christ (Suetonius 5. 25).
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Non-Biblical References To Jesus. – The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37 -100 A. D. ) makes reference to the ministry of Christ and to his crucifixion by Pilate at the urging of the Jewish leaders (Josephus, Antiquities 18. 3. 3), and refers to “Jesus, who was called Christ” in writing of the death of James (Josephus, Antiquities 20. 9. 1). Flavius Josephus
Specific Confirmation of N. T. • Trajan Non-Biblical References To Jesus. – Pliny the Younger (62 -113 A. D. ), governor of Bithynia & Pontus, wrote to emperor Trajan with questions concerning treatment of Christians and provided described their regular worship of Christ. – Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata (125 -190 A. D. ) wrote of Christ as originator of this cult who was crucified in Palestine.
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics.
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – Evidence of camels dating to several hundred years before Abraham’s day has been found in Egypt (Genesis 12: 16). Code Of Hammurabi – Ancient inscriptions found in Palestine indicate that alphabetic writing was in use in that part of the world even before the time of Moses. – The Code of Hammurabi demonstrates sophistication of ancient law codes.
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – A vast Hittite empire has been discovered and many universities now offer a Ph. D in Hittite Studies (Genesis 15: 20; Deuteronomy 7: 1). Hittites Kadesh Treaty Between Hittites & Egypt
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – In 1993 a 3, 000 year old monumental inscription referring to “the House of David” was found in northern Israel (2 Samuel 5: 3). “House of David” Inscription
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – Palace of Sargon, king of Assyria (Isaiah 20: 1) was discovered in 1843. Palace of Sargon
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – Inscriptions uncovered in ancient Babylonia confirm Belshazzar’s existence and indicate that he was co-ruler of Babylon with his father, Nabonidus (Daniel 5: 1 -31). Nabonidus Cylinder
Significance of Historical Reliability • Overcoming The Critics. – Inscriptions have been uncovered which indicate that Quirinius actually served as governor twice (Luke 2: 2). – In 1968 the bones of a crucified man, Yohanan ben Ha’galgol, were discovered in a tomb outside Jerusalem, having received a proper Jewish burial (Luke 23: 50 -56). Bone of Crucified Man – The Bible criticizes the critics!!!
Significance of Historical Reliability • The Bible Deserves The Benefit Of The Doubt.
Significance of Historical Reliability • The Bible Deserves The Benefit Of The Doubt. – The historical reliability of the Bible makes it unique. – The Bible has fended off criticism at every turn, and its historical accuracy has been confirmed. – We should only expect further confirmation of the details of biblical history to emerge in the future.
Significance of Historical Reliability • The Bible Deserves The Benefit Of The Doubt. – Critics should reserve judgment when before casting doubt on the integrity of the Scriptures. – Passages currently lacking extra-biblical confirmation may yet be confirmed in the future. – The Bible has earned the right to receive the benefit of the doubt!
Conclusion • • • Christians must defend the historical accuracy of the Bible. Must be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1: 17) & “always be ready to give a defense” of the truth (1 Peter 3: 15). Must uphold and guard the integrity of the inspired record. The Bible is not a book of “cunningly devised fables” (2 Peter 1: 16). The Bible truly is “the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1: 23).
The Bible is Historically Reliable!!!
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